JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban government this week rejected President Donald Trump’s bid to retake Bagram Air Base, four years after America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan left the sprawling military facility in the Taliban’s hands.

Trump last week renewed his call to reestablish an American presence at Bagram, even saying “we’re talking now to Afghanistan” about the matter. He did not offer further details about the purported conversations. Asked by a reporter if he’d consider deploying United States troops to take the base, Trump demurred.

“We won’t talk about that,” Trump said. “We want it back, and we want it back right away. If they don’t do it, you’re going to find out what I’m going to do.”

Chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected Trump’s assertions and urged the United States to adopt a policy of “realism and rationality.”

Afghanistan had an economy-oriented foreign policy and sought constructive relations with all states on the basis of mutual and shared interests, Mujahid posted on X. It had been consistently communicated to the United States in all bilateral negotiations that Afghanistan’s independence and territorial integrity were of the utmost importance, he said.

“It should be recalled that, under the Doha Agreement, the United States pledged that ‘it will not use or threaten force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Afghanistan, nor interfere in its internal affairs,’” he said. The United States needed to remain faithful to its commitments, he added.

Mujahid did not reply to questions from The Associated Press about conversations with the Trump administration regarding Bagram and why Trump believed the United States could retake it.

“Ceding even an inch of our soil to anyone is out of the question and impossible,” said the chief of staff at the Defense Ministry, Fasihuddin Fitrat, during a speech broadcast by Afghan media.

In August 2024, the Taliban celebrated the third anniversary of their takeover at Bagram with a grand military display of abandoned U.S. hardware, catching the eye of the White House. Trump has repeatedly criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for his “gross incompetence” during the withdrawal of U.S. forces after the country’s longest war.

During his state visit last week to the United Kingdom, Trump hinted that the Taliban, which has struggled with an economic crisis, international legitimacy, internal rifts and rival militant groups since its return to power in 2021, could be game to allow the American military to return.

“We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us,” Trump said of the Taliban.

While the United States and the Taliban have no formal diplomatic ties, the sides have had hostage conversations.